How to Clean Memory on Xiaomi Redmi 9: A Complete Guide with Instructions

Your Xiaomi Redmi 9 is slowing down, apps are constantly crashing, and the system is notifying you of a memory shortage? The problem is familiar to many owners of this smartphone - despite the 32/64 GB of internal memory, over time it is clogged with unnecessary files, cache and debris. In this article, we will discuss 7 effective ways to clean memory, from simple to radical, with detailed instructions and warnings about possible risks.

Redmi 9 features MIUI-based work (even on newer versions of Android), where the system actively caches data to speed up work. On the one hand, this is a plus, but on the other hand, without regular cleaning, the cache can take up to 5-7 GB (depending on the number of applications installed), and many users do not know that system updates and residual files after deleting programs also eat precious space.

Important: Before you start cleaning, check how much memory is occupied right now. To do this, go to Settings → About Phone → Memory. If less than 10% of the total is free, the smartphone is already at its limit, and this directly affects performance. Let's start with the safest methods.

1. Cleaning the app cache manually

Caches are temporary files that create applications to load content quickly, accumulate over time and can take up gigabytes of memory. On Redmi 9, the cache can be cleared in two ways: for individual programs or all at once.

To clear the cache for a specific application:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 Select the app you want (such as YouTube or Facebook).
• 🧹 Click Clear cache (not to be confused with Clear data – this will remove all program settings!).
• 🔄 Repeat for all “heavy” applications (messengers, social networks, games).

For mass cleaning of cache of all applications:

1. Go to Settings → Memory → Cleanup.
2. Press Cash and confirm the action.
3. Wait until the process is completed (may take 1-2 minutes).

⚠️ Warning: Clearing the cache does not delete important data (messages, photos, accounts), but after it, applications can load longer on the first run. Do not clear the cache of system applications (for example, Settings or Phone) - this can cause crashes.

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If after cleaning the cache, the application began to work slower, restart the smartphone - this will help the system to reassemble temporary files.

2.Remove unnecessary files and debris through built-in MIUI tools

MIUI has a built-in tool to find and delete unwanted files, Cleanup, and it analyzes the system and finds:

• 🗑️ Residual files after deleting applications.
• 📁 Duplicate photos and documents.
• 🎵 Unused. APK-files (application installation packages).
• 📂 Large files that have not been opened in a long time.

How to use:

1. Open Settings → Memory → Cleaning.
2. Press the check and wait for the scan to be completed.
3. Look at the files you find and tick the ones you want to delete.
4. Click Clean (at the bottom of the screen).

Note the Big Files section — it often hides forgotten videos, backups, or downloads from instant messengers, for example, a single 1080p video can weigh 500MB or more.

⚠️ Attention: In the section Deep cleaning MIUI It can suggest that you delete files that look like garbage, but are actually needed for some functions to work. For example,.nomedia files hide folders from the gallery, and deleting them will cause photos to be seen again in the Gallery app.

3. Transfer data to a memory card or cloud

If the internal memory is catastrophically lacking, and you do not want to delete files - transfer them to microSD (up to 512 GB) or to cloud storage. Redmi 9 supports microSDXC memory cards, but there are nuances:

• 📱 Not all applications can be transferred to the map (especially system applications).
• 🔄 Speed of operation with SD-cards lower than the built-in memory (depending on the class of the card).
• ☁️ Google Drive, Mi Cloud, and other cloud services require a stable Internet connection.

How to transfer files to a memory card:

1. Insert the microSD into the slot (located under the cover, next to the slot). SIM-card).
2. Open Files (application from Xiaomi).
3. Select the necessary files (photos, videos, music) with a long press.
4. Click More → Move → Memory Map.

To automate the transfer of photos:

1. Open the camera. → Settings (⚙️) → Preservation site.
2. Select Memory Card.

For cloud storage:

• ☁️ Google Photos: Automatically uploads original photos/video (up to 15GB free).
• ☁️ Mi Cloud: 5GB free, integrated with MIUI (settings in Accounts → Mi Cloud).

⚠️ Note: If you use the memory card as internal storage (format as internal memory in the settings), then: It can not be removed without data loss. Some applications may not work stable. When you reset the phone to factory settings, the card will also be cleared.

4. Removal of system debris and residual files

Even after you delete the applications on Redmi 9, they still have their tails — folders with settings, logs and temporary files — that you can't see in the standard file manager, but they take up space.

• 🔧 Built-in memory optimizer (MIUI).
• 🛠️ Third-party utilities (e.g, SD Maid or Files by Google).

Method 1: Through a Memory Optimizer

1. Go to Settings → Memory → Cleaning → Deep Cleaning.
2. Select Residual Files and wait for the scan.
3. Delete everything except the application files you plan to reinstall.

Method 2: Files by Google (deeper cleaning):

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Open the Cleanup section.
3. Select Unnecessary Files and Duplicates.
4. Delete everything except files marked System.

Pay special attention to the folders:

• 📂 /Android/obb/ — This is where game data is stored (may weigh several gigabytes).
• 📂 /Android/data/ — cache and application settings.
• 📂 /DCIM/.thumbnails — Photo miniatures (can be removed without consequences).

5. Disabling and removing unnecessary system applications

MIUI is known for a large number of pre-installed applications, many of which cannot be removed by standard methods, but can be disabled or removed via ADB (for advanced users).

List of safe apps to disable on Redmi 9:

• 🎵 Mi Music – standard player (can be replaced by Spotify or YouTube Music).
• 📺 Mi Video - Video player (alternative — VLC).
• 📰 Mi Browser – Browser (better to use Chrome or Firefox).
• 🛒 GetApps – Xiaomi’s branded store (duplicates Google Play).
• 📊 Analytics – statistics collection service (you can turn off without consequences).

How to turn it off:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the unnecessary app.
3. Click Disable (the button will appear if the application is system).

The ADB (Android Debug Bridge) is a risky method, but it frees up more space.

adb shell


pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.videoplayer # example for Mi Video




pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.player # example for Mi Music

⚠️ Note: Removing system applications through ADB This may lead to: Mistakes in the work MIUI (For example, a player will disappear in the gallery, problems with system updates, unstable work of some functions (for example, the themes of the design), before deleting, back up through Settings. → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

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Disabling unnecessary apps doesn’t free up a lot of space (usually 100-300MB), but it reduces background activity and saves battery life.

6. Reset to factory settings (last resort)

If all previous methods failed, and there's a critically low amount of free memory, you'll have a complete reset, which will delete all data, including apps, photos, accounts, and settings.

• 🔄 The phone is very slow and overheating.
• 📱 Memory is clogged with unknowns (for example, after a virus).
• 🔧 You plan to sell or transfer your smartphone.

How to reset:

1. Create a backup of important data (photos, contacts, messages).
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Select Reset all settings.
4. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (takes 5-10 minutes).

After discharge:

• 📱 The phone will be like new – you will need to reconfigure accounts and install applications.
• 🔒 All passwords (Wi-Fi, applications) will have to be re-entered.
• 📁 The memory will be completely cleared (except for the files on the memory card).

⚠️ Attention: Redmi 9 reset via Recovery (Power buttons) + Volume up) can cause the bootloader to lock if you previously unlocked it for root rights.Use only reset via settings!

7.Memory optimization to prevent filling

To prevent memory from getting clogged again, follow these recommendations:

• 📵 Clear the WhatsApp cache every 1-2 weeks. → Data and memory → Clear the cache.
• 🎮 Remove games you haven’t played in a long time – they take up the most space (from 1 GB).
• 📥 Set up automatic download in messengers only over Wi-Fi and limit the size of files.
• 🔄 Regularly check the Memory section in the settings for large files.
• 📂 Use cloud services to store photos and videos (e.g. Google Photos with compression).

You can also limit the background activity of applications:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Permissions → Autorun.
2. Turn off auto-run for unnecessary apps (this will reduce cache creation).

For advanced users:

• 🛠️ Install Greenify – an application for background hibernation processes.
• 🔧 Use AppOps (requires root rights) to fine-tune permissions.

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Regularly cleaning the cache and deleting unnecessary files once a month prevents garbage accumulation and keeps Redmi 9 performance at a high level.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning Redmi memory 9